Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Cunningham Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

My hon. Friend makes an important point and I am happy to do as she suggests.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

T7. We are more likely to find high-stakes fixed odds betting terminals in deprived areas of urban constituencies such as mine than in the leafy towns of Suffolk, so it is betting shop staff in places such as Stockton and Billingham who will have to consider giving permission to punters who want to place stakes of greater than £50 a time. Will the Minister explain how the Government decided on the sum of £50, the criteria that they would have betting staff use when deciding whether to grant permission, and how the system will be monitored and enforced?

[Mrs Grant]

There is a lot in that question, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the proposals I announced in April were measured and proportionate. They give more powers back to local authorities and, most importantly, more protection to consumers.